South Africa Work Permit

The most important advice to those interested in South Africa job search is to consider all national differences, if you want your application to be taken seriously. You should be prepared to take the South Africa as it is with all of its difficulties, contradictions and challenges.

Do not take lightly the influence a South Africa work permit can have on the consequence of your adventure! For example, you will experience the unfamiliar immigration rules and practices, strange job application procedures, bizarre job selection trends and weird management culture.

Most visits to South Africa are trouble-free but you should be aware of the risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by expatriates and foreign travelers like restaurants, hotels, clubs and shopping areas. You should exercise a high degree of caution due to violence in the country experiencing a deteriorating security situation. High levels of criminal activity, as well as demonstrations, protests and occasional illegal roadblocks remain a concern throughout the country. In recent years, the South African authorities have carried out a number of investigations and operations against drug related crimes and terrorist networks. Monitor local news broadcasts and consular messages. Ensure that your travel documents and visas are current, valid and secured in a safe place. Carry a photocopy of your travel documents in lieu of the originals. Maintain a low profile, vary times and routes of travel, and exercise caution while driving. Making local contacts quickly and seeking support from other expatriates will greatly increase your comfort and safety.

Passport and South Africa Work Permit

Visitors to South Africa are required to have a visa upon arrival and valid international health certificates.

Passport

All nationals require passport valid for at least 30 days after the intended date of departure.

Passport must have at least two blank pages for entry stamp. This cannot include the 'endorsement' page at the back. Passengers who also require a visa must have a passport with two blank facing pages, one for the visa and one for their entry stamp. Anyone attempting to enter South Africa without the required pages will be returned to their country of origin.

South Africa Work Permit

The main consideration in dealing with work permits is whether a South Africa citizen/permanent resident cannot perform the employment task to be undertaken. South Africa work permits are therefore issued to foreigners only where South Africa citizens with the relevant skills are not available for appointment. Having said that, however, in some instances international concerns with branches/affiliated companies in the republic may from time to time decide to transfer existing personnel from a foreign branch to a branch in the republic. As these employees will be key employees, they must apply for inter-company transfer work permits, in which instance no proof of steps taken to obtain the services of a South Africa citizen/permanent resident will be required.

The employer must apply for the South Africa work permit with a proof that no South African citizen is able to do the job. Normally, the foreign worker will receive work permit valid only for one employer and for one year. Such a permit needs renewing each year.

A foreigner may only change his or her status while inside South Africa. This implies that a foreigner may only change from a temporary residence permit to a permanent residence permit within the country, as status has been defined as temporary or permanent residence. Any foreigner who therefore wishes to enter the Republic of South Africa must apply for the appropriate temporary residence permit at the South Africa diplomatic representative in his or her country of origin.

Travelers entering South Africa from countries where yellow fever is endemic are often required to present their yellow World Health Organization (WHO) vaccination record or other proof of inoculation. If they are unable to do so, they must be inoculated at the airport in order to be permitted entry.

Contact the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in your home country for further information about South Africa work permit